Segmental Anomaly Leading to Wrong Level Disc Surgery inCauda Equina Syndrome

Abstract

The presence an undetected congenital spinal anomaly, lumbarization of the S-1 vertebral body, resulted in mistaken intraoperative identification of the L4-5 space in this patient resulted in decompression at the wrong level requiring a second surgery. Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae can often be overlooked on plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine. It is essential to be alert to the possibility of transitional vertebrae when evaluating these imaging studies, particularly in the operative treatment disc disease.